The Luis was an armed cargo ship carrying 7,000 tons flour, oats, timber and anti-personnel artillery shells from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Portsmouth.
On 12th April 1918 she was torpedoed by UC-71 off the Isle of Wight. Four crew died when she sank.

UC-71 was a minelayer in the I Flotila at the time and had already sunk 63 ships totalling 110,750 tons. She was commanded by Oblt. Eberhard Schmidt when she sank SS Luis.

UC-71 sank in the North Sea in position 54.10N, 07.54E while on passage to surrender. The wreck was visited in 1997 (after successful special permit request of the WSA) in a prohibited area near helgoland from Ingo with his wreck-search boat “Elbe II” with the help of a sonic depth finder some hundred meters away from the calculated position. The wreck was in well state at this time. 

She was broken up by dispersal 1923 Salvaged 1970
Today she lay well broken up in 18m with many of her shell removed by divers.